Knitted article of hosiery and fabric



June 15, 1954 P. THURSTON 2,680,951

KNITTED ARTICLE OF HOSIERY AND FABRIC Filed Sept. 9, 1950 15Sheets-Sheet 1 oooooaoooannooo0av..-eooeuoonnyoongnoqou oflulehucooounan INVENTOR. PA UL L THU/P5 701v J 14954 P. L. THURSTON 2,680,961

KNITTED ARTICLE OF HOSIERY AND FABRIC Filed Sept. 9, 1950 15 Shets-Sheet2 IN VEN TOR. IDA (/L L. 7/-UR57'0N 4 7' TUBA/EX June 15, 1954 P. L.THURSTON 2,630,961

KNITTED ARTICLE OF HOSIERY AND FABRIC Filed Sept. 9, 1950 1sSheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR. Pauc L. THURSTON A TTok/vc- June 15, 1954 P.L. THURSTON 2,680,961

KNITTED ARTICLE OF HOSIERY AND FABRIC Filed Sept. 9, 1950 15Sheets-Sheet 4 g INVENTOR.

P4 04 L 72/025 row June 15, 1954 P. L. THURSTON 2,680,961

KNITTED ARTICLE OF HOSIERY AND FABRIC Filed Sept. 9, 1950 15Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. 24 UL L THU/PS 701v ATTOk/VfX June 15, 1954 P.L. THURSTON 2,680,961

KNITTED ARTICLE OF HOSIERY AND FABRIC Filed Sept. 9, 1950 15 SheetsSheet6 'INVENTOR. PAUL L. THU/P5 ro/v A 7 TOR/V5) June 15, 1954 P. THURSTON2,680,961

KNITTED ARTICLE OF HOSIERY AND FABRIC Filed Sept. 9, 1950 15Sheets-Sheet '7 103 mm 103 v 100 102 JNVENTOR.

A 45 PAUL L. THURSTO/V 15 Sheets$heet a P. L. THURSTON KNITTED ARTICLEOF HOSIERY AND FABRIC June 15, 1954 Filed Sept. 9, 1950 June 15, 1954 L.THURSTON 42,630,961

KNITTED ARTICLE OF HOIER AND FABRIC Filed Sept. 9, 1950 15 Sheets-Sheet9 IN VEN TOR. PA (/L L. 72/0/9570 ATTOR/VfX June 15, 1954 P. THURSTON2,680,961

KNITTED ARTICLE OF HOSIERY AND FABRIC Filed Sept. 9, 1950 15Sheets-Sheet 11 209 207 208 I II .211

207 I I I I I 2 207 fir? 213 20 07 Eii -m 207 2 20 I I I I INVENTOR. PAUL L, THUASTO/V A TTOR V Y June 15, 1954 P. L. THURSTON 2,680,961

KNITTED ARTICLE OF HOSIERY AND FABRIC Filed Sept. 9, 1950 15Sheets-Sheet l2 0000090900000 0000000000000 DIOIQ T700 uunqqp unnunuunnnuunuunuunanq J66 IN V EN TOR. PA UL L. 7 H0125 7'0/v ATTOR/V X June15, 1954 P. L. THURSTON Filed Sept. 9, 1950 KNITTED ARTICLE OF HOSIERYAND FABRIC 15 Sheets-Sheet l3 INVENTOR. R404 A. 71/01937 A TTORNE Y June15, 1954 P..| T 0 2,680,961

KNITTED ARTICLE OF HOSIERY AND FABRIC Filed Sept. 9, 1950 15Sheets-Sheet l4 INVENTOR. 1 UL L. fill/R570 June 15, 1954, P. L.THURSTQN 2,680,961

KNITTED ARTICLE OF HOSIERY AND EABRIC Filed Sept. 9, 1950 15Sheets-Sheet l5 I a A VIII/1161.!

ATw/f/Mr Patented June 15, 1954 lTED TE? OFFICE KNITTED ARTICLE OFHOSIERY AND FABRIC Application September 9, 1950, Serial No. 183,989

8 Claims. (01. 66-179) The present invention relates to knittingmachines and, particularly, to circular knitting machines. It isespecially applicable to machines for knitting circular seamlesshosiery.

While many mechanisms have been proposed for producing difierentpatterns in knitted fabrics, the patterning potentialities of suchmechanisms have been limited. This is especially true with respect tosolid color patterns, as distinguished from plating where the back yarntends to show through. Moreover, with present machines, attempts to makemore difficult patterns result in decrease of the production of themachines to a point where they are uneconomical to operate. In someinstances, hand operations are necessary. The problem of patterning isstill more difficult in small diameter machines such as those used forproducing hosiery by reason of space limitations. In automatic hosierymachines, the difficulty is increased by the necessity of operating byreciprocation and widening and narrowing to produce heel and toepockets.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a knitting machinewith far greater patterning capabilities than the knitting machinespresently available. These patterning capabilities can be used either toproduce decorative designs or to produce different fabric structures. Afurther object of the invention is to provide a machine that is whollyautomatic in its operation and produces difilcult patterns whilemaintaining a high rate of production. While the invention is applicableto knitting machines for many dhTerent types of fabric, it is especiallyadvantageous in small diameter circular knitting machines forautomatically producing seamless hosiery and, for this reason, a machinof this type is illustrated in the drawings. It will be understood,however, that this machine is shown and described merely by way ofexample and that the invention is in no way limited to it. As will beseen from the description and drawings, the machine in accordance withthe invention is basically diiierent from knitting machines heretoforeavailable and embodies many novel features. While it is preferable touse all of these features to gain full advantage of the invention, itwill be understood that certain features can be used without usingothers.

In accordance with the invention, the neeedles of the knitting machineare individually operated and their operation is electricallycontrolled, needlc selection being effected by means of electricalcontrol circuits rather than by conventional cams, jacks, etc. Thecontrol circuits provide both patterning selection and sequenceselection. Patterning selection determines which needles operate and howthey operate. Sequence selection determines th timing and sequence ofoperation of the selected needles. In the preferred embodiment of theinvention, each needle is individually controlled in each course. Theelectrical operation of the needles offers many possibilities, such ascross-connecting or interconnecting certain needles electrically bymeans of switching, and also the possibility of switching from oneselection or sequence control to another. Preferably, the yarn selectionis also controlled electrically to provide wide selection and extremelyflexible control. Many other novel features and advantages of theinvention will appear from the following description in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a machine embodying the presentinvention.

Fig. 2 is a left side elevation of the machine.

Fig. 3 is a right side elevation.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view corresponding to a portion of Fig. 3 butwith certain parts removed in order to show other parts behind them.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the machine with certain of the superstructurecut away.

Fig. dis a schematic perspective View showing connections for raisingthe yarn-feeding head of the machine.

Fig. 7 is a radial section taken in a vertical plane indicatedapproximately by the line 1-4 in Fig. 5.

Figs. 8 and 9 are similar sections showing respectively different formsof needle-operating mechanism.

Fig. 10 is a small scale schematic plan showing means for raising andlevelling the needles, for example to receive a transferred top.

Fig. 11 is a plan of the needle-operating cam ring shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 12 is a partial section on the line |2l2 in Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is an outside elevation of one of the cam assemblies shown inFig. 11.

Fig. 14 is an outside elevation of another of the cam assemblies.

Fig. 15 is a section on line i5-|5 in Fig. 11.

Fig. 16 is a developed elevation showing cams on the cam ring of Fig.11.

Fig. 17 is a developed plan view of the cams.

Fig. 18 is a plan of a control plate for sequence control.

Fig. 19 is an elevation of the control plate and associated parts shownin 18.

Fig. 20 a plan of the upper end of a pattern drum controlling needleselection and yarn selection and also shows an arrangement forcross-connecting certain needles.

Fig. 21 is a partial right side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 20.

Fig. 22 is a wiring diagram circuits for the needle-operating shown inFig. 9.

Fig. 23 is a plan of a sequence control plate use in this embodiment.

Fig. 24 is a wiring diagram showing circuits for controlling theneedle-operating mechanism illustrated in Figs. '7 and 8.

Fig. 25 is a view, partially in plan and partially in horizontalsection, taken approximately on the line 25-25 in 1 illustrating yarnselection mechanism.

Fig. 26 is an elevation and partial section of the yarn selectionmechanism, as viewed from the left of Fig. 25.

Fig. 27 is a side view of an article of hosiery made in accordance withthe present invention.

Fig. 28 is a schematic developed view showing the pattern of the fabricillustrated in 27.

Fig. 29 is a stitch diagram of a small portion of the fabric.

In the drawings, the lines on which sections are taken are located asaccurately as possible but should be considered as approximate. In orderto simplify the drawings, certain parts of the machine are omitted inthe various figures.

GENERAL CONSTRUCTION The machine in accordance with the invention has aframe on which the moving parts are sup ported, a needle bed, a seriesof independent needles reciprocally mounted on the needle bed, mechanismfor individually operating the needles, including an electromagnet foreach needle, electric circuits controlling both the sequence ofoperation and the selection of the needles, yarnfeeding mechanism andpreferably means for changing yarns during the operation of the machine.

The needle bed is shown in the form of a slotted cylinder (Fig. 8) whichis stationary in the sense of being non-rotating but preferably issupported for vertical endwise movement by a cylindrical sleeve portion2: of the machine frame 3 (Figs. 1 and 8). The needle cylinder 1 ismovable vertically by means of a collar d and suitable connectingmembers 5 and a cam follower 6 (Fig. l) which cooperates with cams 1carried by the shaft 8 of the pattern drum 9 of the machine. Thevertical movement of the cylinder adjusts the lengt i of the knittedstitch and also provides for lowering the cylinder relative to theneedles when it is desired to transfer fabric on to the machine, as forexample the rib knit top of a stocking.

A circular series of needles is provided on the needle bed, each needlein having a hook H and latch I2 at its upper end and one or more butts 3at its lower end (Fig. 9). At the upper end of the cylinder, there is asinker ring l4 carrying a circular series of radially slidable sinkersl5 which are moved in and out by means of suitable cam surfaces in arotating and oscillating sinker cap [6. The latches of the needles arecontrolled by one or more latch rings I! (Fig. 9).

Needle-operating mechanism The needle-operating mechanism may assumeshowing control mechanism for cl different physical forms, threeembodiments be ing illustrated in Figs. 7, 8 and 9, respectively. In theform shown in Fig. 9, each needle is provided with an operating lever 20which extends radially outwardly from the needle cylinder l and ispivoted at El on a stationary frame member 22. At its inner end, thelever 2D has a socket 23 that fits over the butt Id of the needle. Atits outer end, the lever has an armature 2% disposed between twoelectromagnets iii and 26 carried, respectively, by stationary rings 2'!and 28. When the magnet 25 is energized, it lifts the armature 2 to pullthe needle down. The energizing of magnet 26 pulls downwardly on thearmature 24 to raise the needle. Hence, by energizing selected magnetsin predetermined sequence, se lected needles can be raised to receive aand then drawn down to knit it.

In order to raise and level multaneously, for example to transfer a ribknit stocking top on to the needles, 2. buffer ring 29 is raised beneaththe inner end portions of levers 28 by means of interengaging camportions on ring 28 and a cooperating ring 38 which is rotatable bymeans of a handle 3i (Figs. 1 and 10). The inner ends of the levers 2?.are guided in their vertical movement by means of a stationary ring 32having a series of vertical radial slots 33 in which the levers arereceived.

In the form as shown in Fig. 7, the needle-operating mechanism comprisesan operating lever 35 for each needle. Each of the levers is pivotec at35 on a bracket 3'1 carried by an upper ring 38 supported by means ofposts 39 which project upwardly from radial ribs is projecting outwardlyfrom the cylinder-supporting sleeve At its inner end, the lever 35 asocket portion ll engaging the butt it of the corresponding needle.Intermediate its ends, each lever is provided with a rider 62 which ispreferably formed of hardened material. A. portion of the upper surfaceof each rider 42 is preferably rounded for smooth engagement by one ormore cams 43 carried by a cam ring A l which is rotatably sup-ported bymeans of ball bearings 55. l'he cam ring a l is driven in synchronisinwith a rotating yarn feed head (described below) and the number and.position of cams provided on the ring correspond to the yarn feeds. Inthe present embodiment, there are four yarn feeds which are equallyspaced in a circumferential direction and four cams d3 likewise equallyspaced. The earns 43 are substantially \.'-shaped with flattened bottomsand. are adapted to engage the riders 42 on the needle-operating levers35 in either direction of rotation of the cam ring M5 to draw theneedles down and thereby draw stitches oi the yarn fed to the needles.The phase relation in such that the cams &3 follow the respective yarnfeeds. The cam ring Ml is driven in any suitable manner, for example bymeans of a separate sprocket as described below in conjunction with Fig.7 or by an arm l6 that projects downwardly from the yarn-feeding headand acts on one or the other of spaced buffer screws 4'! on the ring 4%,the spacing being such as to provide proper phase re-- lationshipbetween the cam ring and the yarn feed head in both directions ofrotation. lhese screws provide suitable adjustment. The levers 35 areguided adjacent the riders :22 by means of a vertically slotted cylinder48 which also supports a bearing ring 49 for the rotating cam ring 44.

When the needle-operating levers 35 are pressed down by a cam 43, eachlever is held in all of the needles siits "down position by means of aspring latch 5| which has a bifurcated upper end straddling the leverand engaging the rider 42. The latch 5| is pivoted at 52 and a spring 53tends to swing it in a clockwise direction (as viewed in Fig. 7 aboutits pivot. The latch 5| is swung in the opposite direction to releasethe needleoperating lever 35 by means of a rod 5Q connected with theplunger-type armature 55 of a cylindrical electromagnet 56 supported bya bracket 57 on a stationary ring 58. A tension spring 5!! acts betweenthe lever 35 and the upper ring 38 to raise the lever when it isunlatched.

In this embodiment, the needles and operating levers are normally lockeddown in their lower position. By energizing selected ones of the magnets55 in predetermined sequence, the corresponding levers are unlatched andthe needles are raised by springs 59. After receiving yarn for thatparticular feed, the needles are pressed down by one of the cams t3acting on the operating levers which are again latched. If a magnet 56is not energized, the correspond ing. needle holds its stitch and doesnot knit a new stitch in that course.

If it is desired to raise and level the needles for transferring, thiscan be done by mechanism like that described in conjunction with Figs. 9and 10. In this event, provision is made for disengaging the cams 43from the riders 42, for example by making the riders slidable on thelevers or by providing for the lifting or radial movement of the cams43. Otherwise, certain needles would be held down by the cams. One endof the winding of each electromagnet 56 may, for convenience, beconnected to a bus bar 64.

In the embodiment of Fig. 8, the needles are operated by radiallyprojecting levers 66, each of which has a socket 6! at its inner end toreceive the needle butt l3 and is pivotally mounted at its outer end 62on a bracket 63 carried by the supporting ring 38. Upper arm 65 ispivoted on the bracket 53 at 66 and is connected with the lever by apair of rods 6? so that the lever 69 and arm form a parallelogramlinkage. A screw adjustment device 68 provides adjustment of therelative positions of the lever 60 and arm 65.

At its inner end-nearest the needle cylinderthe arm 65 carries a roller10 mounted on a shaft ii that is telescopically slidable in the arm 65and is pressed inwardly towards the needle cylinder by a spring 72. Inits outer position, the shaft H is held against the spring pressure bymeans of a latch '13 engaging a detent M on the shaft. The latch i3 ispivotally mounted on the arm at it and is pressed into engagement withthe detent M by a light spring '56. The latch is released by means of abell crank lever l1 pivoted at is on an extension of the bracket $3 andhaving an upwardly projecting portion 19 adapted to engage the rear endof latch 73 at a point adjacent the pivot 66 of arm 55. The other arm ofthe bell crank 1'! extends downwardly and. is connected by a wire orlink 89 a,

at the gore during widening and narrowing, for

with the pivoted armature 8! of a two-pole electromagnet 82. When themagnet is energized, the latch 73 is released to permit the roller 19 tomove in towards the cylinder and thereby be in a position to be engagedby cams carried by I a cam ring described below. The roller it issubsequently cammed back to its outer position and held there by thelatch 73 until the magnet 82 is again energized. On the needle-operatinglever 60, there is a slider 85 carrying a horizontal roller 86 and avertical roller 81. A spring 88 tends to move the slider in towards theneedle cylinder. The slider is held in its outer position against thepressure of the spring by a latch 89 which is pivoted on the lever 60 at93 and has an upstanding portion 9I adapted to engage an adjustablescrew 92 carried by the bracket 63. A spring 93 tends to hold the latchin engagement with a detent on the slider 85 when the lever is in itslower position. When the lever is moved upwardly a predetermineddistance determined by the adjustment of screw 92, the engagement ofupstanding portion 9| or the latch with the screw 92 causes the latch torelease the slider 85, allowing it to move inwardly to a position inwhich roller 85 is engaged by cams described below. Cam surfaces arealso provided to engage with vertical roller 8? to move the slider toits outer position, whereupon it is again held by the latch 89.

The cams that act on the lever 56 and arm 65 are carried by the rotatingand oscillating cam ring 45 (cf. Fig. 8) and an associated outer camring 95 which is spaced from, and carried by, ring at by means ofsuitable brackets. These cam rings are rotated and oscillated insynchronisrn with the yarn-feeding head, for example by means of an arm35, as in Fig. 7, or preferably by means of a chain sprocket 95 (Fig. 3)which is mounted on posts 9! projecting upwardly from the cam ring i anddriven by a chain from a sprocket on the control shaft I26 describedbelow.

In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, there are four completesets of cams on the cam rings 44 and 95, the sets being equally spacedand corresponding to the four feeds of the yarnfeeding head. Moreover,since the machine is designed to work in reciprocation as well as instraight rotary movement, each of the cams is double-faced or there aretwo corresponding cams. Referring to Figs. 8 and 11 to 17, the camsadapted to act on the roller iii of arm 65 are carried. by the outer camring 95 and comprise clearing cams I00, resetting cams ml and levellingcams I02. The clearing cams are so positioned that they act on therollers l0 only when the rollers have been fired by release of thelatches l3 and are hence in their inner position. The clearing cams areof such height that, acting through the roller iii, arm 65, links iiiand lever 60, they raise the corresponding needles to latch-clearingposition. The resetting cams H3! engage the ends of rollers ill and pushthem back out to their outer positions where they are held by latches'33 until they are again fired by energizing the magnets 82. Thelevelling cams I02 extend out farther than clearing cams H36 in a radialdirection so as to engage the rollers 10, even when the latter areretracted. These cams are of such height as to raise the unselectedneedles so that their hooks are approximately level with the sinkers.This prevents the formation of undesirably large loops example in makingthe heel and toe in knitting diamond patterns.

The cams acting on the rollers 66 and 8'! on the lever 69 are carried bythe inner cam ring 44 and comprise stitch cams t3 and a V-shapedresetting cam M4. The cams Hi3 are in such position radially thatthey'do not engage the rollers 86 when the sliders are latched in theirouter position. When the rollers are in their pockets and innerposition, they are engaged by the stitch cams I83 to draw the needlesdown and thereby draw stitches of the yarn fed to the needles. Resettingcam H34, acts radially on the vertical rollers 8'! to move the sliders85 to their outer position. As the needles and operating levers 68 haveat this time been drawn down by the stitch cam Hit, the sliders 85 areheld in their outer position by the latches 89. The resetting cam m4 isslidable relative to the stitch cams N23, for example by being slidablymounted on a rib IE5 that projects from the outer face of the stitchcams. It thereby assumes the position shown in solid lines in Figs. 16and 17 during rotation of the cam rings in one direction and theposition shown in dotted lines during the other direction of rotation sothat resetting cam at all times trails the active stitch cam.

There are also provided V-shaped feeding cams 67 (Figs. 11, 15, 18 and17) which are carried by inwardly projecting portions Hit of the innercam ring it and are adapted to engage either the inner ends of thelevers 6% or additional butts on the needles just below these levers soas to to lower all of the needles to a predetermined level to receivethe yarn fed by the yarnfeeding; means. It has been found that theneedles should be lowered to a point where their latches are protectedby the sinkers so that the yarn cannot accidentally get below thelatches.

It has been found that with a four-feed machine such as that shown inthe drawings it is not necessary to provide any shogging between the camrings and the yarn-feeding head during reciprocation. As theyarn-feeding points are disposed between two stitch cams, the needlesare operated to draw stitches of the yarn by one stitch cam duringrotation in one direction and by the stitch cam on the other side of thefeeding point during rotation in the opposite direction.

The rotatable sinker cap it (Fig. 9) is driven from the cam ring is bymeans of an upwardly projecting arm 59 (Figs. 11 to 13) which engagesopposed bumper screws that are adjustable to control the angularrelation of the cam ring and the sinker cap in both directions ofrotation.

The operation nism shown in Fig. 8 is electromagnet 82 is energized, thecorresponding roller '46 is fired to its inner position where it isengaged by one of the clearing cams ills (Figs. 11 to 17) to raise theneedle to clearing position. The raising of the needle-operating leverEd releases latch 39 (Fig. 8), allowing the slider 85 to move to itsinner position so as to be engaged by a stitch cam Hit which draws theneedle down to form a stitch. The roller H3 and slider 35 are reset bytheir corresponding resetting cams llli and H34. When a needle is notselected, i. c. When the corresponding magnet 82 is not energized, theroller i0 is raised slightly by the levelling cam IE2 but not enough torelease the latch 89 and not enough to clear the latch of the needle.The unselected needles hence hold their stitches.

of the needle-actuating mecha- Needle selection The selection of needlesat each of the four feeds is effected by a combination of sequenceselection, which determines the sequence and timing of the needleoperation, and pattern selection, which determines whether or not a asfollows: When the particular needle is to take the yarn and draw a newstitch at that feed.

Sequence selection Sequence selection is provided by means of a seriesof devices for opening and closing the circuits that supply electricenergy to the individual electromagnets in predetermined sequence oneafter the other. For convenience of terminology, these devices arereferred to as circuit breakers although they may assume any suitableform, for example mechanical contacts, mercury switches or equivalentdevices for stopping and starting the flow of current to energize themagnets or for varying the now of current above and below a criticalvalue required for energizing the magnets. By means of this sequencecontrol, the magnets that control the needles are energized inpredetermined timed relation to the rotation of the yarn feed. Whenknitting by reciprocation, the sequence control is automaticallyreversed each time the yarn feed reverses its direction.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated by way of example in thedrawings, sequence selection is obtained by the use of a plurality ofcontrol plates. The number of control plates may be varied as desired,depending upon the type of patterns it is desired to produce with themachine. In Figs. 2 and 3, five control plates numbered ili, i I2, H3,H3 and H5, respectively, are mounted one above the other at the back ofthe machine. The plates are supported by suitable frame structureincluding a plurality of rods H6 which extend between the peripheries ofthe plates. The plates are formed of insulating material and eachcarries an arcuate series of electrical contact buttons H1 (Figs. 18 and19) which are connected by the circuits described below with therespective magnets for the individual needles. Preferably, each contactcontrols a particular magnet although in some instances a contact maycontrol two or more magnets as desired by suitable cross-connection. Insome instances, there may be a complete circular series of contacts, thenumber of contacts corresponding, for example, to the number of needlesin the machine. In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, thecontrol plates are shown with approximately semi-circular series ofcontacts, the number of contacts on each. plate being equal to, orslightly greater than, half the number of needles. In order to operateall of the needles, two of the control plates may be usedsimultaneously, one controlling half of the needles and the other theremaining half. Alternatively, the needles may be cross-connected sothat each contact controls two needles, for example pairs of needlesthat are diametrically opposite one another. In some instances, asillustrated on control plate H5 (Fig. 24), there may be som what morethan a semi-circle of contacts. Such a control plate may, for example,be used in reciprocating knitting, as in knitting heel and toe pocketsof a stocking when it is desired to use more than half of the needles.Other arrangements of the contacts may be used to obtain the particularresults desired. In addition to the contact buttons provided near theperiphery of the control plates, each plate has a concentric inner slipring H8. A rotatable shaft I20 extends up through aligned holes in thecontrol plates and carries brushes adapted to engage the slip rings 1 i8and contacts i ii, the brushes being electrically connected with oneanother. The

shaft I is driven from the main shaft I2I of the machine by means ofbevel gears I 22, a chain I 2-3 and suitable chain sprocket so that theshaft I20 is always rotated and reciprocated in exact synchronism withthe main shaft I 2 I. The latter is driven in any suitable manner, forexample by means of pulleys I24 (Fig. 3). The shaft I20 rotates in aclockwise direction, as viewed from the top, during operation of themachine in continuous circular motion.

Each of the control plates II I and 1 I2 (Fig. 24) is shown with asingle set of brushes, i. e. a brush I26 contacting the slip ring I I8and a brush I21 engaging the contact buttons Ill. The brushes areresiliently carried by an arm I28 which projects radially from aninsulating collar I29 that is mounted on, and rotates with, the shaft52!]. Provision is preferably made for adjusting the brush armsangularly with respect to the shaft so as to vary the phase relation ofthe arms to one another and to the shaft.

Control plates H3, H4 and H5 (Fig. 24) each have a brush engaging theslip ring I38 and a pair of brushes adapted to engage the contactbuttons H1. The two latter brushes are spaced a predetermined distanceapart, for example a distance of twelve contact buttons, and are soarranged that in reciprocating motion the leading brush is in contactwith the buttons while the trailing brush does not engage them. In theconstruction illustrated in the drawings (Figs. 18 and 19) a split fibercollar having a bushing I32 clamps on to a sleeve 33 that surrounds androtates with the shaft I26. The collar carries a radially projecting arm35 on the lower side of which is resiliently mounted a brush I35 adaptedto engage the inner slip ring H8. A cross arm I36 is pivotally mountedat the outer end of the radial arm I35 and carries spring-pressedbrushes I3? and I38 at its opposite ends. The extent of oscillation ofthe cross arm I36 is limited by engagement of a point I39 provided onthe arm with an adjustable stop M6 on the radial arm i3 5. With thisarrangement, the frictional engagement of the brushes with the controlplate and contact buttons automatically rocks the cross arm we uponreversal of the direction of rotation so that the leading brushes onlycontact the buttons. This assures that the needles are properly raisedto receive the yarn in both directions of rotation.

Provision is made for lifting the brushes of at least certain of thecontrol plates when the respective plates are not in use. While thedrawings illustrate mechanism for raising the brushes of control platesI I2 and H3 (Fig. 3), it will be understood that similar or othermechanism may be provided for raising any desired ones or all of thebrushes. The brush-lifting mechanism shown in the drawings comprises abell crank I 32 pivoted on a suitable support at it and having a forkedarm Hi4 engaging a collar I on the sleeve I33 (Fig. 18) that carries thebrushes, the sleeve being rotatable with, but axially slidable on, theshaft H8. The other arm of the bell crank is connected by a link 66 witha rocker M? which is pivoted at I48 and has a nose portion adapted to beengaged by suitable cams on the main pattern drum 9. When the nose ofthe rocker I l! rides up on a cam, the brush assembly is lifted by thebell crank I42.

Means is provided for switching any desired ones of the control platesinto the needle-operating circuits so that the sequence of operation ofthe needles may be controlled by one or another of the control plates orby two or more plates in combination. This makes it possible readily tovary the sequence of operation of the needles, for example when knittingdifierent parts of an article or when knitting different articles. Asillustrated in the drawings (Figs. 3, 5 and 24) the machine is providedwith a. series of switches I 50, each consisting of a pair of contactsadapted to be pressed together by means of a pivoted rocker arm I5Iadapted to be engaged by suitable cams on an extension of the mainpattern drum 9. Each of said switches is connected in series between asource of electromotive force and the inner slip ring H8 of one of theeontrol plates. When the rocker arm I5I is engaged by a cam, thecorresponding switch is closed so that electrical energy is suppliedthrough the slip ring to the brushes of the corresponding control plate.As the shaft I23 rotates, the brushes supply current sequentially to thecontacts II'I since the brush that engages the slip ring I I8 and thebrush that engages the contacts are electrically connected. Whereprovision is made for lifting the brushes, as described above, it is notnecessary to have a disconnecting switch I58 since the lifting of thebrushes automatically opens the circuit. However, for greaterflexibility of control, each control plate is preferably provided with acorresponding switch I50.

Pattern selection Pattern selection is obtained by means of circuitbreakers provided in the electrical operating circuits of the individualneedles and opened and closed in accordance with a predetermined patternor plan. The connections between the circuit breakers controlling needleselection and the circuit breakers which control the sequence of needleoperation are such that a needle is operated only by the cooperation ofboth circuit breakers, i. e. when both circuit breakers are in properposition. In the machine illustrated in the drawings, the two circuitbreakers are in series with one another so that current is supplied .foroperating a particular needle only when both circuit breakers areclosed. Suitable patterning mechanism is provided for opening andclosing the circuit breakers that control needle selection during theknitting of an article. Preferably, the arrangement is such that theneedle selection can be changed for each course of the fabric. Thepatterning mechanism may assume different forms as, for example, amoving strip or sheet which may be perforated or may have magnetized andunmagnetized areas acting through suitable responsive media to open andclose the circuit breakers controlling pattern selection. Alternatively,a strip or sheet may have areas of diiferent opacity acting throughlightresponsive media to control the circuit breakers. However, themachine illustrated in the drawings has pattern selection circuitbreakers controlled by a rotatable drum having removable pins foractuating the circuit breakers.

As shown in Fig. 1, the circuit breakers controlling pattern selectioncomprise a series of switches I53 mounted on a vertical supporting stripI54 which is preferably formed of insulating material. The switches maybe of any suitable form, as, for example, contacts carried by spacedresilient leaves mounted on a suitable insulating strip or block.Switches of this type-but for a difierent purpose-are illustrated inFig. 21. Suitable terminals are provided for the wiring connectionsdescribed below. The contacts are

